Ben Sopra Nissan GT-R - Initial Timing

The Nissan GT-R is also known as Godzilla, the monster from Japan. Born with 478 hp (545 hp for 2012 models), a twin-turbo V-6, and a state-of-the-art all-wheel-drive system, it’s hard to deny the beast’s given nickname. Over the years we’ve featured all types of R35 builds: the all-race Nismo car, the Top Secret demo car, the beautifully crafted widebody Gallant Abflug car, and recently the two high-dollar R35s from SP Engineering. Some time has passed since the car was released in 2009, and it’s time to take the R35 to the next level.

Seemingly out of nowhere comes Ben Sopra, a company that’s only been around for less than a year, specializing in aero kits for the R35 GT-R and the Lamborghini Gallardo. At the Tokyo Auto Salon show earlier this year, three different R35s were outfitted with the new Ben Sopra kit that stole the show and caused every GT-R fanboy around the world to stare in awe. In red vinyl wrap was the Greddy 35RX race car, in beige-colored paint was a street version R35 built for Hashimoto Corporation, and lastly this white GT-R that you see on the cover was the first one fitted with the kit and the actual demo car for Ben Sopra, owned by its president Kazunori Ueta.

When you see this car you instantly notice the one-piece front end that swings upward and forward. It reminds me of how the hoods open on older cars like the KPG10 Hakosuka Skyline, S30 Fairlady Z, or RA22 Celica. With a Holinger transmission and an estimated 1,000 hp, this car is just as mean as its suit. This kit is not just for show or the “wow” factor either; Ben Sopra hired aerodynamics specialists who also build Super GT cars (the top form of production car racing in Japan). Services and engineering like that give this insane widebody kit a price tag of $50,000. Yes, a very hefty price so you probably won’t ever see a fourth one built. Get the story of the first and actual Ben Sopra demo here.